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[Federal Register: November 29, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 228)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 73014-73015]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29no10-33]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 61

 
Notice of Public Meeting: Updating the Flight Instructor Renewal 
Process To Enhance Safety of Flight

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The FAA announces a public meeting to receive industry input 
as to how to improve the Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) biennial 
renewal process to enhance the safety of flight in the General Aviation 
(GA) community. This is an information gathering meeting.

DATES: The public meetings will be held on the following dates.
     December 6, 2010, from 9 a.m. until no later than 4 p.m., 
and
     December 7, 2010 from 9 p.m. until no later than 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The December 6 and 7, 2010, public meetings will be held at 
the FAA headquarters building B, located at 600 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20591.
    Because of limited capacity, we ask that all those who anticipate 
attending the meeting contact Gregory.french@faa.gov with written 
confirmation of attendance and the number of members in the attending 
party. If we find that we are nearing capacity, we may request that 
those who are planning on sending more than a single representative 
reduce the number in their party. If this is the case, respondents will 
be notified by e-mail and/or phone prior to the meeting date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests to attend this public 
meeting, questions regarding the logistics of the meeting, and any 
technical questions should be directed to Inspector Gregory French, 
AFS-800, General Aviation and Commercial Division, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone (202) 267-8212, facsimile (202) 267-5094, or, preferably, via 
e-mail at Gregory.french@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The FAA has been reviewing safety of flight data in the general 
aviation (GA) community over the last ten years. Even with the advent 
of new technologies to assist the GA pilot, there has been little 
improvement in the accident/incident rate among that community of 
aviators.
    CFIs are responsible for ensuring that pilots are properly educated 
to operate safely within the National Airspace System (NAS). For CFIs 
to accomplish that mission effectively they must be provided the means 
and knowledge to do so, and there must be some objective method of 
measuring that information transfer and retention. The FAA has been 
reviewing indicators that suggest that the processes currently in place 
may lack sufficient effectiveness in ensuring that CFIs are being 
provided the best information in the most useful manner. This meeting 
will elicit input from the community of authorized flight instructor 
renewal program operators so that the FAA can better analyze how to 
improve the process.

Purpose of the Public Meeting

    The purpose of this public meeting is for the FAA to hear the 
public's views and obtain information relevant to improving the CFI 
biennial renewal process. The FAA will consider comments made at this 
public meeting before making decisions on any suggested changes to the 
current policy.
    More specifically, the FAA seeks information on the following 
questions. The FAA requests that that all meeting participants provide 
written comments to support any positions they may express support for, 
or disagreement with.
     How effective have Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics 
been in transferring relevant information to flight instructors?
     What can be done to improve the effectiveness of flight 
instructor refresher clinics?
     How effective are the written tests provided at the 
conclusion of flight instructor refresher clinics?
     How can the effectiveness of flight instructor knowledge 
be better assessed?
     How effective have the online courses been?
     How do we effectively measure the success of knowledge 
transfer in online flight instructor renewal courses?
     Should there be changes to 14 CFR part 61.197?
     Are those non-FIRC methods of CFI biennial certificate 
renewal found in 14 CFR part 61.197 adequate and effective in ensuring 
that CFIs possess the most up to date information in terms of both 
proficiency and knowledge?
     What can the community conducting flight instructor 
recurrent training, the FIRC providers, do to contribute to enhancing 
safety of flight among the GA community at large?

Participation at the Public Meetings

    Commenters who wish to present oral statements at the December 6 
and 7, 2010, public meetings will be permitted to do so on an ad-hoc 
basis during the meeting.
    The FAA will have available a projector and a computer capable of 
accommodating Word and PowerPoint presentations from a compact disk 
(CD) or USB memory device. Persons requiring any other kind of 
audiovisual equipment should notify the FAA prior to the meeting.
    Sign and oral interpretation can be made available at the meeting, 
as well

[[Page 73015]]

as an assistive listening device, if requested 10 calendar days before 
the meeting.

Public Meeting Procedures

    A panel of representatives from the FAA will be present. An FAA 
representative will facilitate the meetings in accordance with the 
following procedures:
    (1) The meetings are designed to facilitate the public input on 
policies that directly affect them. The meetings will be informal and 
non-adversarial. No individual will be subject to cross-examination by 
any other participant. Government representatives on the panel may ask 
questions to clarify statements and to ensure an accurate record. Any 
statement made during the meetings by a panel member should not be 
construed as an official position of the government.
    (2) There will be no admission fees or other charges to attend or 
to participate in the public meetings. The meetings will be open to all 
persons, subject to availability of space in the meeting room. The FAA 
will make every effort to accommodate all persons wishing to attend. 
The FAA asks that participants sign in at 9 a.m. on each day of the 
meeting being attended. The FAA will try to accommodate all speakers; 
however if available time does not allow this, speakers will be 
scheduled on a first-come-first-served basis. The FAA reserves the 
right to exclude some speakers, if necessary, to obtain balanced 
viewpoints. The meetings may adjourn early if scheduled speakers 
complete their statements in less time than is scheduled for the 
meetings.
    (3) The FAA will prepare agendas of speakers and presenters and 
make the agendas available at the meetings.
    (4) The meeting is intended to produce an environment conducive to 
an exchange of ideas. If speakers wish to give dedicated presentations, 
they may be limited to 5-10-minute statements. If possible, the FAA 
will notify speakers if additional time is available.
    (5) The FAA will review and consider all material presented by 
participants at the public meetings. Position papers or materials 
presenting views or information related to the topics discussed may be 
accepted at the discretion of the presiding officer and will be 
subsequently placed in the public docket. If the attendees wish to 
provide written materials, the FAA requests that the presenters provide 
at least 10 copies of all materials for distribution to the panel 
members. Presenters may provide other copies to the audience at their 
discretion.
    (6) Each person presenting comments is asked to submit data to 
support the comments. The FAA will protect from disclosure all 
proprietary data submitted in accordance with applicable laws.

    Issued in Washington, DC on November 18, 2010.
Melvin O. Cintron,
Manager, General Aviation and Commercial Division.
[FR Doc. 2010-29921 Filed 11-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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